Hi! I'm new here! I usually come here to just check up on amazing race spoilers, and I thought I might as well make an accountHaha anyway as tar 23 spec, what's the chance of this season starting or ending in Phoenix, AZ? Also, as for actual countries visited, I think Poland, Portugal, and the Philippines are definitely up for re-visits, and I think we should keep our eyes peeled for new visits to Monaco & Bahamas. Thanks!-Brannockdevice

Same here I'd also like to see a leg or two there with all 11 teams, since it hasn't been visited since 17 seasons ago. Sad to say but, it's in the travel warning's list.

Possibility: DefiniteMost people are saying that the Western half of Europe has been way over-used and is need of a rest, at least for one season. Although I do agree that it has been used quite extensively recently- especially the "Big 5" (Spain, France, England, Italy, Germany), I don't believe they are quite finished with the region, nor with featuring at least one of those big names. Let's look at the possibilities:

The U.K. can be ruled out because it was featured heavily last season, and though the country of Ireland wasn't used, the island was, so I'd put my money of that being skipped this year too. Possibility: Unlikely

Germany doesn't seem likely, however, WRP has really enjoyed visiting the country these recent years with 4 visits since season 14 (S14 Leg 2, S16 Leg 4, S20 Leg 5, and S22 Leg 9). This doesn't include the midleg clue in the Hamburg train station while teams were travelling from Denmark to Belgium. I would not be surprised in the slightest if this country still managed to be squeezed in there. Possibility: Unlikely

France seems unlikely since it's been featured quite a few times and has been used as recently as season 21. Possibility: Unlikely

Spain finally got featured again since season 10 and looks open to continue hosting teams, however the fact it was used in season 21 makes me unsure of it being used again already- especially since it took so long to get a revisit originally. I will tack on Portugal to the Spain talk, much like I did with Ireland in the U.K. section. I don't really see where all the Portugal hype is coming from. I think that it could host another leg, but I feel like there are several better options that WRP would look to first before attempting a return visit to the small Iberian nation. Possibility: Outside chance

Alpine Countries: Very Unlikely.Switzerland just used, and Austria has been featured a couple times within the last 10 seasons.

Benelux is another region with a shot of making a return on this season. Personally, I think the Netherlands is the least likely of the three- it looks like they're running out of ideas with using that Switchback with mediocre results. Belgium/Luxembourg are more likely, however, I don't think they're very likely for similar reasons as Spain. I think Belgium was used too recently given the number of previous visits (none), and the fact that they weren't the most successful in design or viewership. Possibility: Outside chance

Scandanvia/Far North: The only one I could maybe see from here is Iceland. I could see them doing a S6-esque opening leg there and continuing on to another European country. However, if they start by heading to Latin America, I would rule Iceland out. Possibility: Likely(Iceland), Unlikely(Scandanavia)

That leaves only one country: ItalyItaly (to me) seems to be the most likely and most obvious answer to where the race will visit this season. Though it was used as recent as S20, that was it's first and only visit since Florence in S12. Outside of Spain, it has been the most underused major country in recent seasons. It's a great country filled with it's own unique culture and several subcultures within. Possibility: Highly Likely. Possible cities/regions:

1. Rome/Vatican City- Way overdue for another visit that actually stays within the city. Hasn't been used at all since season1 and that wasn't even a full leg. The Vatican City is overdue as well, and could house a Route Info, task, or maybe even a pit stop.

In Guatemala we had high security, and were in a safe region. In the major cities, Americans are major crime targets simply because we have a good amount of money compared to them, and the expensive camera equipment would make that target bigger. And Cyprus is in a huge economic struggle, and also has a Greek vs Turkish conflict in the North

In Guatemala we had high security, and were in a safe region. In the major cities, Americans are major crime targets simply because we have a good amount of money compared to them, and the expensive camera equipment would make that target bigger. And Cyprus is in a huge economic struggle, and also has a Greek vs Turkish conflict in the North

The Greek vs Turkish is way over stated. Its safer then the Korean border imo.

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In Guatemala we had high security, and were in a safe region. In the major cities, Americans are major crime targets simply because we have a good amount of money compared to them, and the expensive camera equipment would make that target bigger. And Cyprus is in a huge economic struggle, and also has a Greek vs Turkish conflict in the North

The Greek vs Turkish is way over stated. Its safer then the Korean border imo.

It is actually astonishingly safe. It's ultimately like any other controlled border, and there are quite a few. The UN have managed to tone down the hatred between the Greek and Turkish sides of the conflict, and economic problems don't matter either, because Italy and Spain both had massive economic problems and they were visited, so that isn't a viable reason.

Possibility: Highly LikelyThe region has been glossed over recently and is ready to be revisited.

Likelihood of particular sub-regions (most to least):

1.) Central Europe- It is one of the more politically, socially, and economically stable areas in the Eastern Bloc, so it should be safe and easy for teams to travel to/through there. To me Hungary seems the most likely of the 5 (Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia), with a potentially amazing Switchback task with the spicy soup Roadblock (S6). Slovenia would be next, especially if they go to North-Eastern Italy- its a great country that is also part of the E.U. and would be a new country. Poland is a maybe in my book; of the remaining two, I would put a Slovakian visit as more likely than a return to the Czech Rep.

2.) Balkan Peninsula- Not as strong infrastructure as Central Europe, but several locations can still feasibly host a leg. Montenegro, Croatia, and even Bosnia are the most likely bets for a leg from here. Romania, I don't think will get a return any time soon, Albania and Macedonia are probably too small and forgettable to most viewers for WRP to consider them, and there has been some recent civil unrest in Greece and Bulgaria which might make production a little cautious about traveling there (otherwise, those two are great options as well). Serbia is the least likely to me, especially with the whole Kosovo situation- don't want to go somewhere that's the middle of a very heated and touchy political subject and step on anyone's toes, again (the Hanoi debacle).

3.) Baltic States- Latvia seems most likely since it's the only one to not have been visited. Finland would be next, since it seems the most likely to host another leg or two. I really don't ever expect a return to Estonia or Lithuania. Overall, I don't think this region is likely to make it on this season.

4.) Russia and the Former Soviets- Russia just got a visit in S21, so don't really expect it again yet (except maybe some cities in the Far East). Ukraine could likely host a few legs, but I don't think it will yet. Belarus and Moldova don't seem super feasible yet either, IMO. Overall, I think the fact that this general region has little to no political relationships with the EU may hinder travel to them a little bit. It's much easier and less expensive to travel through the EU, than bounce around between it and non-EU members (obviously this hasn't stopped the race before, but it is a factor, even if it's slight). Infrastructure isn't good in some of these.

TAR: Original Recipe is very conservative in its country selection. We haven't even gotten Israel when, IIRC, TAR:Australia has gone there.

On the flip side, they've never had to get evacuated from a country by US Marines while filming like Anthony Bourdain has. (Related topic- catch his Libya episode next time it shows up on CNN- it's a really excellent look at that country post-Gadaffi)

I also think that Cuba is out for political reasons, given the fuss we had over content of the Vietnam leg last season. It would be nice to see a Miami or Texas start though that would give us a Caribbean/Central American/South American first country that's a bit off the beaten path. How about a Trinidad or Suriname?